Exchangeable gripper element

ABSTRACT

Exchangeable gripper element for sports shoes, especially studs for football boots, with a threaded extension which can be inserted in an orifice of the outsole of the sports shoe, the threaded extension having a steep thread, in the form of one or more helical ribs or grooves, on its otherwise cylindrical outer surface, and a locking element in the form of a projection or a recess being provided on the threaded extension and/or the support face of the gripper element, which can be snapped into a part of the outsole which is of complementary shape thereto. This provides a gripper element which can be screwed in quickly and is secured against undesired loosening in use.

Umted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,911,600

Dassler Oct. 14, 1975 EXCHANGEABLE GRIPPER ELEMENT [76] Inventor: AdolfDassler, Kreuzgasse 2, D-8522 Prlmary bxammer pamck LawsonHerzogenaurach, Germany [22] .Filed: July 5, 1974 ABSTRACT 2 APPL 4 5 4Exchangeable gripper element for sports shoes, especially studs forfootball boots, with a threaded extension which can be inserted in anorifice of the outsole [30] Forelgn Apphcatlon Pnomy Data of the sportsshoe, the threaded extension having a Jan. 5, 1974 Germany 2400473 Steepthr ad, in th form of one or more helical ribs or grooves, on itsotherwise cylindrical outer surface, and [52] US. Cl 36/67 D a lockingelement in the form of a projection or a re- [Sl] Int. CL? A43C 15/00 ees being provided on the threaded extension and/or Field 0f Search 36/6767 59 R the support face of the gripper element, which can be snappedinto a part of the outsole which is of comple- [56] Referen s Ci ementary shape thereto. This provides a gripper ele- UNITED STATESPATENTS ment which can be screwed in quickly and is secured 1,658,0502/1928 Karlson et al 36/67 D against undesired bosenlng in 3,552,043l/l97l Moffa 3,566,489 3/1971 Morley 36/67 D 12 Clam, 4 Drawmg F'guresUS. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,911,600

U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of 2 3,911,600

EXCHANGEABLE GRIPPER ELEMENT The invention relates to an exchangeablegripper element for sports shoes, especially a stud for football boots,with a threaded extension which can be inserted in an orifice of theoutsole of the sports shoe.

In copending US. patent application Ser. No. 485,815, filed July 5, 1974there is described a method for the manufacture of a plastics outsolefor sports shoes, in which gripper elements which can be insertedexchangeably into the outsole have the plastic of the outsole mouldedround them directly during the manufacture of the outsole. The gripperelements used for this purpose consist wholly of plastic and have athreaded extension which serves, during the method of moulding theoutsole, as a moulding element for the corresponding internal thread ofthe orifice into which the gripper element can be screwed. This methodpermits the particularly simple manufacture, and in particular thefixing, of a gripper element for sports shoes in which it is possible todispense with the customary threaded extension bearing a screw threadand with the construction of the support face of the gripper elementwhich serves to secure the gripper element against working loose. Theseconventional threaded extensions not only make the exchange of thegripper elements time consuming but also it is necessary always toensure, through particularly firm tightening of the gripper elements,that the gripper element cannot work loose of its own accord when thesports shoe is being used. To assist this self-prevention, means toincrease friction have already been provided in the support face of thegripper elements.

According to the invention there is provided an exchangeable gripperelement for a sports shoe, comprising a body portion of the elementhaving a support face adapted to abut the bottom face of the shoe sole,a threaded extension projecting from said support face, said threadedextension having a cylindrical outer face, a steep thread, in the formof at least one helical element on said cylindrical outer face andlocking element, which can be snapped into a part of complementary shapeof the outsole.

The "thread of the threaded extension in the gripper element accordingto the invention is thus limited to one or more ribs or grooves whichsuitably only extend over a part of the periphery of the threadedextension, for example over half the periphery. Correspondingly,depending on the extent of the rib, substantially fewer turns, in thecase mentioned by way of example even only half a turn, are required toscrew the gripper element into the outsole of the sports shoe. Inaddition, a projection is provided on the otherwise cylindrical outersurface of the threaded extension and a recess is provided in thecorresponding wall of the orifice in the outsole (or vice versa), andthis projection and recess engage in one another after prior localelastic deformation and secure the gripper element against unintentionaldropping-out or unscrewing. The conventionally used sole materials forsports shoes, for example nylon, permit sufficient elastic deformationwhich makes it possible to snap the projection into the recess.

Of course, the present inventive concept can be implemented in principleindependently of the manufacturing method according to the US. Pat.application Ser. No. 485,815 mentioned above, that is to say the jadvantages of rapid replacement, and of securing, of the gripper elementcan also be achieved without direct moulded round the threaded extensionwhen manufacturing the outsole. However, as is readily appreciated, theproduction of the orifice in the outsole, into which the threadedattachment of the gripper element must be inserted, becomesdisproportionately more difficult and more expensive and hence becomescommercially less competitive. When using the method described in theabove application Ser. No. 485,815, it is, on the other hand, notnecessary to pay attention either to producing the requisite exact fitof the cylindrical outer face of the threaded extension in the orificein the outsole, or to the exact matching of the projection which servesas a securing device and of the corresponding recess, (or vice versa),since the gripper element itself moulds the corresponding parts, ofcomplementary shape, of the orifice in the outsole. This also provides aguide, practically free of play, for the cylindrical outer surface ofthe threaded extension in the orifice in the outsole. This is ofparticular importance because, in contrast to the conventional threadedextensions, wobbling of the gripper elements in the orifice can nolonger be prevented by over-tightening the threads.

The helical rib or ridge serves the purpose of generating, when thegripper element is turned by means of the tools to be provided in theconventional way for this purpose, a force which is correspondinglydirected in the screwing or unscrewing direction and by means of whichthe elastic deformation necessary for snapping the projection into therecess or releasing it from the recess is generated.

In order that the present invention will be fully understood thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment is given, merely by wayof example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view, partly in section, of a stud accordingto the invention for a football boot; and

FIG. 2 is a section through a portion of an outsole showing an orificein the outsole, into which the football stud according to FIG. 1 can beinserted.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic side views, partly in section ofmodifications of the stud of FIG. 1.

The stud according to FIG. 1, has a threaded extension 1, which projectsupwards from a stepped support face 2. The threaded extension 1 hasessentially a cylindrical outer face, from which a rectangular-sectionrib 3, which runs helically over of the periphery of the threadedextension, projects outwards. This rectangular-section rib 3 has shortlybefore its end which merges with the support face 2, a rounded thickenedportion 4 which projects from the upper face of the rectangular-sectionrib 3, in the axial direction of the threaded extension 1.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a portion of an outsole 5 made of plastic, inwhich is provided an orifice 6 which has a groove 7 which corresponds tothe rectangularsection rib 3 of the threaded extension 1. Furthermore, arecess or hole 8 which is complementary to the thickened portion 4 isprovided in the groove 7.

When inserting the stud, the threaded extension 1 is placed against theorifice 6 and the stud is turned by means of a tool, which can beapplied to the key faces 9 shown in broken lines, so that therectangular-section rib 3 engages in the groove 7 in the manner of athread 6 and the threaded extension 1 can be screwed in. After slightlyless than half a turn, the thickened portion 4 of therectangular-section rib 3 rests against the lower edge of the orifice 6and initially prevents further screwing-in. However, by using a highertorque, the part of the groove 7 which adjoins th edge and possibly alsothe thickened portion 4 deforms elastically, so that the stud can beturned a little way further until the thickened portion 4 snaps into therecess 8. In this position, the stud is held securely againstunintentional dropping-out or unscrewing. The stud is undone by following the reverse procedure.

The production of the groove 7 with the recess 8, in such a way that thesupport face 2 can rest flush against the underside of the outsole 5, isadvantageously effected, as described at the outset, in accordance withthe method described in the abovementioned US. Pat. application Ser. No.485,815 in which the threaded extension 1 is directly embedded, in themould for the outsole 5, by the plastic of the outsole whilst theplastic is still fluid, so that the extension 1 itself acts as amoulding device. Of course, here again the material of the stud differsfrom that of the outsole so that the two parts cannot weld together whenone is moulded around the other. If appropriate, the threaded extension1 can additionally be treated with a release agent.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show modifications of the stud of FIG. 1. Morespecifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the extension 1 is providedwith a helical groove 3 having a recess 4.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the locking element 4" is provided on thesupport face of the gripper element rather than on the rib 3 as shown inFIG. 1.

I claim:

1. An exchangeable gripper element for a sports shoe, comprising a bodyportion of the element having a support face adapted to abut the bottomface of a shoe sole of a sports shoe, an extension projecting from saidsupport face, said extension having a substantially cylindrical outerface, a steep thread, in the form of at least one helical element, onsaid substantially cylindrical outer face, and a locking element, whichcan be snapped into a part of complementrary shape of the sole.

2. A gripper element as claimed in claim I, wherein said locking elementis a projection.

3. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking elementis a recess.

4. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking elementis formed on the extension.

5. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking elementis formed on the support face.

6. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical elementis a helical rib.

7. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical elementis a helical groove.

8. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical elementonly extends over a part of the periphery of the extension.

9. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking elementis a local formation of the helical element.

10. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking elementis located a short distance from the support face.

11. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the local formationof the helical element is formed adjacent one end of the helicalelement.

12. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking elementhas a wedge-shaped butting face at least in the screwing-in direction ofthe gripper element.

1. An exchangeable gripper element for a sports shoe, comprising a bodyportion of the element having a support face adapted to abut the bottomface of a shoe sole of a sports shoe, an extension projecting from saidsupport face, said extension having a substantially cylindrical outerface, a steep thread, in the form of at least one helical element, onsaid substantially cylindrical outer face, and a locking element, whichcan be snapped into a part of complementrary shape of the sole.
 2. Agripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking element is aprojection.
 3. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidlocking element is a recess.
 4. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1,wherein said locking element is formed on the extension.
 5. A gripperelement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking element is formed onthe support face.
 6. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe helical element is a helical rib.
 7. A gripper element as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the helical element is a helical groove.
 8. A gripperelement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical element only extendsover a part of the periphery of the extension.
 9. A gripper element asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the locking element is a local formation ofthe helical element.
 10. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1,wherein the locking element is located a short distance from the supportface.
 11. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the localformation of the helical element is formed adjacent one end of thehelical element.
 12. A gripper element as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe locking element has a wedge-shaped butting face at least in thescrewing-in direction of the gripper element.